ANTHONY
NEWLEY
(1931-1999)

It may be odd to start off this page with an obituary, but, sadly, often
people aren't praised until they are gone. Anthony Newley had a brilliant
early career, but was not much heard from (in the U.S.) for the last several
decades. The U.K. press, however, gave ample coverage to his passing,
at the age of 67 on April 14, 1999. A combo obit from the BBC, the London
TIMES, New York TIMES and Reuters follows, with additions from STOP THE WORLD,
a biography published in 2003 written by Garth Bardsley:

ANTHONY GEORGE
NEWLEY, who has died aged 67, was an actor, singer, songwriter
and director of unusual versatility; his career spanned more than 50 years
and embraced film, repertory theatre, rock and roll, comedy revues, music
hall and television.

Born Sept. 24, 1931, in Oswald Street, Hackney, east London, his education,
at the Mandeville School for Boys, Clapton, was interrupted by the Blitz
and he was evacuated to Morecambe, Lancashire, where he was fostered by George
Pescud, a former music hall performer who first introduced the boy to the
theatre. But the family was already musical. Newley's grandfather,
Arthur Robert Newley, a cabinet and birdcage maker, played the oboe and was
a keen amateur clog dancer. His wife, Frances, was an amateur dancer
and singer; and her brother, Bob Morris, was a sometime professional comedian,
a regular at the Holborn Empire. Newley's mother Gracie sang in the
Salvation Army choir, often assigned solos.

After the war ended, Newley worked briefly in an insurance office until
he saw an advertisement for the Italia Conti stage school, where - aged 14
- he was accepted as a pupil and tea boy. He had only been at the school
for a few weeks when the film director Geoffrey de Barkus came to look for
a boy to play the title role in THE ADVENTURES OF DUSTY BATES. Newley got
the part at the age of 14. He also trained for the stage with the Dewsbury
Repertory Co.

He made his theatre debut in 1946 in WINDS OF HEAVEN at the Colchester
Repertory Theatre. He made his West End debut in 1955 in the revue CRANKS,
which dispensed with sets and relied on John Addison's music, clever lyrics
and surprise tactics to hold the attention. This played in New York at the
Bijou in 1956 for 40 performances. CRANKS fired Newley's imagination,
and in 1960, after his success in IDOL ON PARADE, he began his career as
a director with his own television show, THE STRANGE WORLD OF GURNEY SLADE,
a comedy about a social misfit.

He was the original East End boy made good, born illegitimately in Hackney
and leaving school at 14. He then found success as a child actor, most
notably as the Artful Dodger in David Lean's 1948 film OLIVER TWIST.
Propelled by his role in OLIVER TWIST at the age of 17, Newley made his U.S.
debut in 1956, appearing in six films that year. In the 1950s and 1960s,
Newley was everywhere - on the screen, on television and, seven times, in
the top ten.

His singing career came about almost by accident. In 1959, he took the
part of rock and roll star Jeep Jackson - a spoof on Elvis Presley - in the
film IDOL ON PARADE. A ballad from the film, I've Waited So Long, took Newley
to the top of the British charts and started a three year run of hits which
included Personality, If She Should Come to You, And The Heavens Cried and
the novelty numbers Pop Goes the Weasel and Strawberry Fair. He also had
two No 1s, with Why and Lionel Bart's Do You Mind? "So overnight I
had this incredible power," he said years later. "I was a rock and roll singer
and and it lasted for ten wonderful years."

His film appearances included DOCTOR DOLITTLE and THE COCKLESHELL HEROES.
But he is likely to be best known for co-writing and starring in the hit
musicals STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF and THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT
- THE SMELL OF THE CROWD, as well as a number of best-selling hit singles,
including What Kind Of Fool Am I?, The Candy Man and Goldfinger. In
1987 he and frequent collaborator Leslie Bricusse were inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame.

STOP THE WORLD was a landmark in the history of the British musical,
notable for its freedom of form and cynicism of content as it charted the
bitter-sweet rise of its central character, played by Newley, from teaboy
to millionaire. For Newley, its lasting legacy was its songs. They included
Gonna Build a Mountain and What Kind of Fool Am I? which sold more than a
million records and became his signature tune.

STOP THE WORLD for which he was the director, star and co-author (with
his longtime collaborator, Leslie Bricusse), was his greatest showcase. The
show was conceived as "a simple, lighthearted satirical life cycle of the
seven ages of man." (Namely, youth-and-adolescence, decision, sophistication,
maturity, sagacity, retirement and senility.) In the UK, it played
to packed houses for 15 months before transferring to Broadway in 1962, where
it ran for 555 performances. An allegory about acquiring fame and power but
ending up disillusioned, STOP THE WORLD was a tour de force for the
star, who portrayed a symbolic Everyman named Littlechap.

In the States he became one of the very few British crooners to make
it big on the US cabaret circuit (In Las Vegas he commanded the same attention
as Tony Bennett, Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra) and his Cockney rags-to-riches
story made him a chat show favourite. In 1977 he was voted the Male
Musical Star of the Year in Las Vegas.

He had a gift for striking an emotional chord with a mass audience.
But Anthony Newley was also an influence on David Bowie among later performers,
because in all his songs he maintained a distinctively British voice, ending
with his right arm extended for effect in his trademark signoff.

Anthony Newley married and divorced three times. His first marriage
in 1956, to Elizabeth Ann Lynn, was dissolved in 1963, the same year he married
Joan Collins; they divorced in 1971. His third wife was an air hostess, Dareth
Dunn, whom he divorced in 1989. He was survived by his mother, Grace, 96
(with whom he lived in Surrey since 1992 after 22 years living in the U.S.),
and four children, a boy (Sasha) and girl (Tara) with Joan Collins
and another boy (Christopher) and girl (Shelby) with Dareth Dunn.

Newley was a lifelong home movie enthusiast and even filmed his first
date with Collins. Twenty years later they teamed up again in London to appear
in two of Noel Coward's one-act plays for BBC Television.

He recently appeared on BBC television in cameo appearances in the drama
series THE LAKES and as an amorous used car salesman in 3 episodes
of the soap EASTENDERS.

Ill health had plagued the star for many years. He was first diagnosed
with renal cell cancer in 1985, and had one kidney removed. The cancer returned
in 1997, this time attacking his lungs, then spreading to his liver.

Newley lived in Surrey for many years and moved to Florida permanently
in December. He had donated his papers to the Boston University Library
Special Collections Dept.

His third wife, Dareth Newley Dunn, described him as "a dear, sweet,
loving friend and father ... consummate performer and ultimate composer".

The Official Anthony Newley Appreciation Society Worldwide is reachable
at:

STOP THE WORLD opened October 3, 1962 at the Shubert Theatre and ran
for 556 performances.

1962 THIS IS TONY NEWLEY - London/U.S. LL362 (LP) Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss If She Should Come to You Do You Mind? Why? What Now My Love? Strawberry Fair I'll Walk Beside You Lifetime of Happiness A Boy Without a Girl Addio...Addio Lonely Boy Someone to Love1963 PEAK PERFORMANCES - London/U.S. LL3283 (LP) What Kind of Fool Am I? Once in a Lifetime Pop Goes the Weasel Why If She Should Come to You I'll Walk Beside You All or Nothing at All Do You Mind Yes, We Have No Bananas I Should Care Strawberry Fair Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag

This is my favorite Newley recording; plus the
album art is very
clever; on the front it has a photo of Newley in Littlechap makeup looking
into a mirror at Newley not in makeup; and on the back it has a photo of
Newley not in makeup looking into a mirror at Newley in Littlechap
makeup.

1963 FOOL BRITANNIA - Acapella AC-11 (LP) Whatever Happened to John and Marsha? The House that Mac Built Wry on the Rocks Mightier than the Sword Is There a Doctor in the House? There's No Business Like No Business There Goes That Song Again Common Market They Only Fade Away Vice Italian Style Eugenius! Twelve Randy Men Two Old Ladies Locked in ConversationThe running order of the CD (Fatboy FATCD 282) is different (and contains some typos!): Whatever Happened to John and Marcia Countess interrupts The House that Mac Built Wry on the Rocks Mightier Than the Sword The Common Market The Secret Service There's No Business Like No Business Vice - Italian Style They Only Fade Away We are Not Amused Eugenius Twelve Randy Men There Goes That Song Again Two Old Ladies Locked in Conversation

This is a comedy satire on the infamous Profumo scandal devised and
written by Newley and Bricusse.

1963 Acapella AC778 (45 rpm single) upon the assassination of JFK Tribute (written by Newley) Lament for a Hero (by Walt Whitman)1964 IN MY SOLITUDE - Decca/U.K. LK4600 (LP), RCA Victor/U.S. LSP 2925 (LP) Solitude I See Your Face Before Me It's All Right With Me The Winter of My Discontent I Didn't Know What Time It Was For All We Know So Far Rain, Rain (Don't Go 'Way) Like Someone in Love Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry I'll Teach You How to Cry The Party's Over

1965 THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT - THE SMELL OF THE CROWD - RCA Victor LSO 1109; CD reissue: RCA Victor 60351 Music and Lyrics: Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse1965 WHO CAN I TURN TO? - RCA Victor LSP 3347 (LP) Who Can I Turn To? Look At That Face The Beautiful Land Where Would You Be Without Me? It Isn't Enough This Dream The Joker A Wonderful Day Like Today Feeling Good That's What It Is to be Young My First Love Song Sweet Beginning1965 RCA 47-8785 (45 rpm) Why Can You Try to Digeridoo Is There a Way Back to Your Arms?1966 THE GENIUS OF ANTHONY NEWLEY - London/U.S. PS 361 (LP) What Kind of Fool Am I? Young Only Yesterday She's Just Another Girl You Made Me Love You Little Golden Clown You Are Too Beautiful There's No Such Thing as Love I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire The Father of Girls My Claire de Lune Deep River And the Heavens Cried1966 NEWLEY DELIVERED - Decca/U.K. LK 4654 (LP) I Guess It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy Letters to My Love What Kind of Fool Am I? Young Only Yesterday You Made Me Love You You Are Too Beautiful There's No Such Thing as Love I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire Deep River And the Heavens Cried I Saw Her Standing There Pop! Goes the Weasel What Now My Love? Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss Addio...Addio Strawberry Fair1966 NEWLEY RECORDED - RCA Victor RD 7873 (U.K. LP), LSP 3614 (U.S. LP) Smile, Darn Ya, Smile No More Let's Begin I Have Dreamed This is the Beginning of the End All Together The Ballad of Yesterday's Idol Old Devil Moon Bye Bye Brown Eyes Run, Run, Run Keep Away Here I'll Stay1967 DOCTOR DOLITTLE - 20th Century-Fox Records DTCS 5101 (LP); CD reissue: Philips 314 534 500 Music and Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse Overture My Friend the Doctor The Vegetarian Talk to the Animals At the Crossroads I've Never Seen Anything Like It Beautiful Things When I Look In Your Eyes Like Animals After Today Fabulous Places Where Are the Words? I Think I Like You Something in Your Smile My Friend the Doctor1967 ANTHONY NEWLEY SINGS THE SONGS FROM DOCTOR DOLITTLE - RCA Victor LSP 3839 (LP) Talk to the Animals Something in Your Smile I Think I Like You After Today Where Are the Words? My Friend the Doctor Beautiful Things Doctor Dolittle When I Look in Your Eyes At the Crossroads Fabulous Places1968 Warner Bros. Records 7174 (45 rpm) SWEET NOVEMBERSweet November, they say you're wintry and greyAnd yet this love that you bringIs sweeter than spring and warmer than May.Come December, when our November is through,We'll face the winter and smileFor you know that I'll be staying with you.When we remember November's sunshineWe won't mind December's rain;For us it will be like sweet November again.1969 CAN HIERONYMUS MERKIN EVER FORGET MERCY HUMPPE AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS? Kapp Records KRS 5509 (LP) Music: Anthony Newley; Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Overture If All the World's a Stage Piccadilly Lily Oh, What a Son of a Bitch I Am Sweet Love Child Astrological Ballet Chalk & Cheese I'm All I Need On the Boards Lullaby Piccadilly Lily (reprise) Once Upon a Time When You Gotta Go I'm All I Need (reprise) Finale1969 THE BEST OF ANTHONY NEWLEY - RCA LSP-4163 Who Can I Turn To The Joker Where Would You Be Without Me? Solitude Smile, Darn Ya, Smile Talk to the Animals Something in Your Smile What Kind of Fool Am I? Once in a Lifetime Gonna Build a Mountain The Party's Over1969 THE ROMANTIC WORLD OF ANTHONY NEWLEY - Decca SPA 45 What Now My Love Strawberry Fair The Father of Girls Deep River And the Heavens Cried You Made Me Love You What Kind of Fool Am I? Yes! We Have no Bananas! If She Should Come to You I Saw Her Standing There Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss Pop Goes the Weasel1970 FOR YOU - Bell Records 1101 (LP) You and Me - Inevitable I Flooded You with My Love What Sets You Apart? There is No Lyric for the Music of You We Took Our Love Outside Feline, Wild and Domesticated I Am a Fool Ocean, Greet My Love! Darling, It's Time The Secret Places I Want You for My Wife So That Now Remains Forever Your Mouth-Shaping Demands of One Syllable The Anatripsis of Love We Climb Yesterday's Stairway That Eternal Whore, Time The Eternal Instant of Our Parting Couples - I Do Not Envy Them I Reside in Hell Will the Windows Continue to Mock Me? Memoria

This is a spoken word album based on a book by Jennings Cobb.

1971 PURE IMAGINATION - MGM Records SE 4781 (LP) The Candy Man Pure Imagination Little Golden Clown Pop Goes the Weasel Cheer Up, Charlie There's No Such Thing as Love The Beautiful Land Best of all Worlds I've Got a Golden Ticket I'll Begin Again1971 AIN'T IT FUNNY - MGM/Verve MV 5096 (LP) Overchewer The People Tree Ain't It Funny Me Without You The Good Old Bad Old Days It's a Musical World The Fool Who Dared to Dream Easy for You, Captain Candy I Do Not Love You What Did You Do in the Great War, Daddy?1972 THE GOOD OLD BAD OLD DAYS - EMI Records/U.K. EMA 751 (LP); reissued as AEI/U.S. 1116 (LP) Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley The Gold Old Bad Old Days Mustn't Grumble The Fool Who Dared to Dream The Wisdom of the World Thanksgiving Day And Women Must Wait Today Tomorrow Yesterday It's a Musical World I Do Not Love You A Cotton Pickin' Moon The Good Things in Life What's the Matter, God--Can't You Take a Joke? They've Got a Cure for Everything on Broadway The People Tree Broadway Finale

Newley again collaborated with Bricusse in this show, in which Newley
played the Devil. Before it opened, it was known briefly as IT'S A
FUNNY OLD WORLD WE LIVE IN, BUT THE WORLD'S NOT ENTIRELY TO BLAME. This
opened on December 20, 1972 in London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre,
ran for 309 performances, but never made it to Broadway. In fact, Newley
himself never returned to the Great While Way in a book show; although he
was heading there in 1983 with a musical version of CHAPLIN (as in Charlie
Chaplin), which closed out of town.

1972 Columbia 45 rpm DB 8933 The Good Old Bad Old Days Mister Sniffles

In 1974 Newley appeared for two weeks on Broadway in a show with Henry
Mancini doing essentially his nightclub act.

1977 THE SINGER AND HIS SONGS - United Artists Records LA718-G (LP) Lunch With a Friend Shelby Learning to Love You Again Gay Girl My Last Song Teach the Children A Woman Holding Roses My Friend Howie The Man Who Makes You Laugh1985 MR. PERSONALITY - Decca/U.K. Tab 84 (LP) Personality Strawberry Fair Why I've Waited So Long D-Darling Bee-Bom Once in a Lifetime Pop Goes the Weasel Do You Mind? That Noise If She Should Come to You And the Heavens Cried Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss What Kind of Fool Am I?1989 First Night Records Score 20 (45 rpm) What Kind of Fool Am I? Gonna Build a Mountain1992 SCROOGE, THE MUSICAL - That's Entertainment Records 1194 (CD); U.S. issue Jay 1272 (CD) Music and Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse I Hate Christmas No Better Life I Hate Christmas (reprise) It's Not My Fault Happiness You...You It's Not My Fault (reprise) I Like Life A Better Life Thank You Very Much I'll Begin Again Finale bonus tracks: A Better Life, I'll Begin Again

This musical version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, with music and lyrics by
Leslie Bricusse, from the 1970 Albert Finney movie SCROOGE started regionally
in Birmingham in 1992 and eventually opened November 1996 in London. Newley
hoped to bring it to Broadway, but at the time there were competing versions:
a one-man show with Patrick Stewart; and a different musical adaptation with
lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Alan Menken.

1992? TOO MUCH WOMAN - BBI/UK (CD); issued in the U.S. as GNP/Crescendo 2243 The Candy Man Too Much Woman Why? Rainbows Do You Mind? The Way That I Did Be-Bom Nearly Wonderful Who Can I Turn To? White Boy Autumn What Kind of Fool Am I? Remember Centerfold1994 THE SONGS OF LIONEL BART - Music Club/U.K. 176 (CD) Do You Mind? You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two Reviewing the Situation1995 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - Carlton/U.K. 30362 (CD) Tradition If I Were a Rich Man Sabbath Prayer To Life The Dream Sunrise, Sunset Do You Love Me? Chava Sequence Anatevka1996 THE VERY BEST OF ANTHONY NEWLEY - Carlton 30364 00122 The Candy Man Too Much Woman Why? Rainbows Do You Mind? The Way That I Did Bebom Nearly Wonderful Who Can I Turn To? White Boy Autumn What Kind of Fool Am I? Remember Centrefold If I Were a Rich Man Do You Love Me? Make 'Em Laugh Puttin' on the Ritz They Can't Take That Away From Me Thank Heaven for Little Girls? ANTHONY NEWLEY'S GREATEST HITS - Deram/U.K. 820 694 (CD) Personality Strawberry Fair Why? D-Darling Be-Bom Once in a Lifetime Pop! Goes the Weasel Do You Mind That Noise If She Should Come to You And the Heavens Cried Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss What Kind of Fool Am I? Someone to Love It's All Over Letters to My Love Lonely Boy and Pretty Girl I Get Along Without You Very Well Yes! We Have No Bananas The Little Golden Clown1997 ONCE IN A LIFETIME: THE ANTHONY NEWLEY COLLECTION - Razor & Tie/U.S. RE 2145-2 (CD) On A Wonderful Day Like Today What Kind of Fool Am I? Gonna Build a Mountain Who Can I Turn To? The Joker Once in a Lifetime The Candy Man Talk to the Animals Something in Your Smile This Time the Dream's on Me It's the Talk of the Town I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan The People Tree I Do Not Love You The Good Old Bad Old Days1997 THE VERY BEST OF ANTHONY NEWLEY - Spectrum Music 552 090-2 Personality Why Do You Mind If She Should Come to You Strawberry Fair And the Heavens Cried Pop Goes the Weasel Bee-Bom What Kind of Fool Am I? D-Darling That Noise My Blue Angel Lifetime of Happiness I'll Walk Beside You She's Just Another Girl I've Waited So Long I Guess It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy Young Only Yesterday Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss You are Too Beautiful2000 ON A WONDERFUL DAY LIKE TODAY BMG 74321 752592 On a Wonderful Day Like Today When I Look In Your Eyes Old Devil Moon I Have Dreamed The Joker Look at That Face Talk to the Animals Feeling Good Something in Your Smile Doctor Dolittle After Today Smile, Darn Ya, Smile This is The Beginning of the End The Ballad of Yesterday's Idol Here I'll Stay My First Love Song The Beautiful Land Sweet Beginning My Friend the Doctor Beautiful Things At the Crossroads Where Would you Be Without Me? Bye Bye, Brown Eyes That's What It is to be Young Keep Away Who Can I Turn To?2000 THE DECCA YEARS 1959-1964 (Decca 466 918-2) Idle on Parade I've Waited So Long Personality Someone to Love Why? Do You Mind? Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss If She Should Come to You Lifetime of Happiness Strawberry Fair And the Heavens Cried Lonely Boy and Pretty Girl Bee-Bom Once in a Lifetime D'darling I'll Walk Beside You That Noise There's No Such Thing as Love The Father of Girls You Made Me Love You I Wanna Be Rich Lumbered Gonna Build a Mountain Meilinki Meilchick Nag Nag Nag Mumbo Jumbo Someone Nice Like You What Kind of Fool Am I? Yes, We Have No Bananas You're Free I Was Never Kissed Before Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes All or Nothing at All Pack Up Your Troubles Pop Goes the Weasel Who Can Say Bye Bye Blackbird I Should Care Basin Street Blues By Myself Gone With the Wind The Thrill is Gone Love Is a Now and Then Thing When Your Lover Has Gone It's the Talk of the Town Speak Low I Get Along Without You Very Well Deep River What Now My Love? I Don't Want To Set the World on Fire What Kind of Fool Am I? My Clair De Lune Solitude I'll Teach You How to Cry The Party's Over

(This double CD is almost worth buying just for the photos and liner
notes which were written by Raymond Horricks who produced these original
recordings. Among other anecdotes, he says that STRAWBERRY FAIR
"went at such a frantic lick that I remember it as the session when we wore
out three guitarists." He also reports that BEE-BOM was written by
Johnny Worth to the theme tune of Tony's short lived British TV series GURNEY
SLADE. This is probably the only place Newley fans are going to get
to hear on CD the songs he sung on the original British cast recording of
STOP THE WORLD, including ONCE IN A LIFETIME, LUMBERED, GONNA BUILD A MOUNTAIN,
MEILINKI MEILCHICK, NAG NAG NAG and MUMBO JUMBO. The CD has 2 versions
of WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I, one from the Broadway original cast album, but
not the one from the British original cast album.)

Nothing much seems to have been mentioned about Newley's sense of humor.
In fact, in addition to writing humorous songs, he often seemed to
have chosen songs to record which were funny and kind of "music hall" type
songs, including YES! WE HAVE NO BANANAS, POP GOES THE WEASEL, PACK UP YOUR
TROUBLES , STRAWBERRY FAIR and ALL TOGETHER, the lyrics of which I list
here:

ALL TOGETHER (Miles Rudge - Ted Dick)It goes all together, with a pum tiddle liddleCan't think whether there's a pum in the middleOnce you've heard it you'll sing it all day long - What a lovely song! Hang on a mo--It goes all together, and it-- no, wait a minute -Can't think whether there's a pum tiddle in it -What a pity, I've forgotten it becauseYou'd love it, I know, if I knew what it was.The bit in the middle is kind of sort ofMore like a waltz gone wrong.A singable song of the sort that we're short ofAs soon as I beginYou'll want to join in -It goes all together, but there's no use in goingHell for leather, when there's no way of knowingEven whether I'm singing it all wrongSo hang on a mo--While I have a goAt sorting out this simple yet very unforgettable song.The fella what sung it was kind of, sort ofMore or less drunk with song.Long in the hair, it was breath he was short ofAs soon as I heard it I knew every wordOf this song that I heard.It goes all together with a pum tiddle liddleCan't think whether there's a pum in the middleWords were clever, what a lovely songNo, hang on a mo--I remember every part of itOh, let yourself go,And we'll do it from the start of it:Now, all together, we're getting in the mood-No, hang on a mo--It's rude!

In addition to writing the score with Leslie Bricusse for 1971's film
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Newley wrote the score for the 1975
film MR. QUILP (now broadcast on TV under THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP) and, with
Bricusse, the title song for the 1968 film SWEET NOVEMBER; and, finally with
Bricusse, the songs for the 1976 TV version of PETER PAN. He also co-wrote
with Stanley Ralph Ross the book, music and lyrics for the 1983 stage show
CHAPLIN and created the 1985 revue ONCE UPON A SONG. Newley had been
working for many years on a musical version of RICHARD III and sang some
of these songs during his last New York cabaret appearance at Rainbow and
Stars in 1996. The BMI database lists 195
songs for which Newley wrote the music or lyrics. His four
U.S. hit songs were Why?, If She Should Come to You, Pop Goes the Weasel
and What Kind of Fool Am I? By contrast, he had 12 hit singles in
three years in the U.K., all included in the 1997 CD, THE VERY BEST OF ANTHONY
NEWLEY. He and Bricusse won two Ivor Novello Awards, for Best Musical
Score (STOP THE WORLD) and Best Song (WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?). Newley
went from child star to pop idol, to composer, author, director and leading
man and leaves an amazing body of work.

Garth Bardsley has written an authorized biography of Newley entitled
STOP THE WORLD - THE BIOGRAPHY OF ANTHONY NEWLEY published by Oberon Books
(2003). Leslie Bricusse's autobiography THE MUSIC MAN (Metro Publishing
Ltd. 2006) contains interesting insights into the creation of STOP THE WORLD
and THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT.

You can hear full versions of Newley singing some songs if you click
here.